Courtesy Norfolk Historical Society

Freight trains lumbered through Norfolk on a daily basis in the early 20th century, transporting anthracite coal from Pennsylvania. The trains could be more than 20 cars long and usually required a second engine or pusher to get the heavy load up the hills to Norfolk. The freight station, pictured on the right, was located about where the National Iron Bank now stands. The structure on the left is a water tower. Fire was a constant concern, since live cinders from the steam engine boilers frequently started grass fires. Farmers living near the line would watch for any sign of smoke and gather with their neighbors to extinguish the flames.